Counterweight figure toy



Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,617

F. ZALKA COUNTERWEIGHT FIGURE TOY Filed May 25, 1927 1 [Z I I v Q BY INVENTOR ATTO R N EY Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK ZALKA, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COUNTERWEIGHT FIGURE TOY.

Applieationfiled May '25, 1927. Serial No. 194,154.

This invention'relates to'certainnovel improvements in counterweight figure toys and has for its principal obj ectthe provision of an improved construction 'of this character which will be highly efficient in use and economical in manufacture.

Among the several objects of the invention is to provide a toy having its character mounted for oscillationand so arranged to oscillate a considerable period of'time and whereby when the oscillatory character is surface decorated an array ofbrilliant colors will be presented much to the amusement of thechild. v

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of construction and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional detail view, of the same, taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 1

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail view of the same, taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detailview, of the same, taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig.2; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referrin more particularly to the drawing a stan is indicated at 10. This stand includes side walls 11 to which are connected a top wall 12 and bottom wall 13. These walls are connected to the side walls by a tongue and groove connections 14 of a well known type. The top wall 12 has formed therein an elongated slot 15. A body comprising two characters 16 and 17 is formed from a single piece of material preferably of wood of severalply. I The character 16 in the present instance is illustrated as an elephant and has its front legs 17 formed as an integral part of the back 18 of the character 17 which character 17 is illustrated as a human being. At the juncture between the back 18 and the legs 18 the character 17 is painted to represent arms 19. The 7 lower body portion of the character 17 extend downwardly the stand 10.

The hind legs 20 of the character 16 are through the slot 15 within pivotally connected to the topwall 12 in the following manner.

To accomplish this, I provide inthe pre-' ferred form of construction twobrackets 21 and 22. These brackets are formed-substantially L shaped to provide two base flanges 23 adapted to be arranged in superposedpd' sition to dispose openings 24c formed therein in registration with respect to each other for the passage of a connectingelement 25, such for example: a screw. The, brackets secured in this position have their limb portions 26 disposed in spaced parallel relation with respect to each other and in these limb portions, contiguous their upper end portions, are formedopenings 27. These limb portions provide outwardly struck portions 28 for reasons hereinafter set forth.

Formed in the hindlegs of the character 16 is an opening 29 substantially elongated in cross section and driven into this opening is a pin 30. This pin 30 may be formed from a fiat strip of material with one edge portion 31 thereof finelytapered to provide a substantially small bearing edge 32 slightly rounded in cross section. The end portions 33 of the pin are adapted to fit into the openings 27 with the rounded edge 32 enga ing the edges of the brackets providing t ese openings.

Carried by the lower end portion 341 of v the character 17 is a weight or bob 35. This weight 35 is preferably formed of metal and is secured to the lower end portion 34 in the following manner:

In molding the weight 35 attaching clips 36 have their end portions 37 embedded in. the weight. These clips 36 are substantially U shape. to provide limb portions 38 and 39. The outer end portions of these limb portions are'bent inwardly and driven into the lower end. portion 3 1 of the character 17 it being noted that the bent end portion of the limb 38 being driven'into the lower end 'portion 34 ata point. spaced inwardly from the point where the bent end portion of the limb 1 adjacent thereto is driven whereby to prevent weakening of this lower end portion of the body 17.

If desired the characters 16 and 17 may have their surface decorated with brilliant colors whereby to present an array of contrasted colors during oscillation of the body.

In use the characters are initially manually oscillated and by reason of the small bearing edge 32 friction isgreatly reduced thus permitting the characters to oscillate a substantial period of time.

It will be seen that the structure is such that the toy may be disassembled for packing intoa compact parcel. By forming the characters from wood of several ply it will be manifest that cracking or breaking of the characters cannot easily take place.

- While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification, without depart ing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but

desire to-avail myself of such variations and modificatlons as come within the scope of the appended claim. 5 Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Let ters Patent is:

A toy comprising a supporting'structure having a top wall provided'with an elongated slot, oppositely disposed brackets secured to said'topand ha ving openings formed in parallel limb portions and extended portions adapted to be bent to obstruct passage through the openings, a character having a body portion provided with an opening formed substantially. elongated in cross section, a pin fitted into saidopening andformed substantially-elongated in cross section" and havinganedge portiontapered and rounded to provide a restricted bearing surface, said pin being adapted to have its end portions mounted in said openings, a hob,

, FRANK ZALKA. 

